The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America, by Greg Grandin



Here is a chapter-wise summary of the book The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America, by Greg Grandin:

Chapter 1: The Frontier

In the first chapter, Grandin argues that the idea of the frontier has been central to American identity since the nation's inception. The frontier was a place of opportunity and possibility, where anyone could reinvent themselves and start anew. It was also a place of danger and violence, where the law was often absent and the strong ruled the weak.

Chapter 2: The Indian Wars

The second chapter explores the history of the Indian Wars, which were fought between the United States government and Native Americans for control of the frontier. Grandin argues that the Indian Wars were not simply a matter of conquest, but also a clash of cultures. The United States government believed that its way of life was superior to that of the Native Americans, and it was determined to force them to adopt its ways.

Chapter 3: The Mexican-American War

The third chapter examines the Mexican-American War, which was fought over the issue of Texas annexation. Grandin argues that the war was not simply about Texas, but also about the future of the frontier. The United States government wanted to expand its borders to the Pacific Ocean, and it saw the Mexican-American War as an opportunity to do so.

Chapter 4: The Gilded Age

The fourth chapter looks at the Gilded Age, a period of rapid economic growth and industrialization in the United States. Grandin argues that the Gilded Age was a time of great social and economic inequality, and that the frontier was no longer a place of opportunity for everyone. The rich got richer, while the poor got poorer, and the frontier became a place of exploitation and violence.

Chapter 5: The Progressive Era

The fifth chapter examines the Progressive Era, a period of reform in the United States. Grandin argues that the Progressive Era was a time when Americans began to question the myth of the frontier. They saw that the frontier had not brought about the promised equality and opportunity, and they began to demand change.

Chapter 6: The New Deal

The sixth chapter looks at the New Deal, a period of government intervention in the economy during the Great Depression. Grandin argues that the New Deal was a time when the federal government began to take on a more active role in shaping the American economy. The New Deal programs helped to create jobs and provide relief to the poor, and they helped to lay the foundation for the modern welfare state.

Chapter 7: The Cold War

The seventh chapter examines the Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Grandin argues that the Cold War was a time when the United States turned its attention away from the domestic problems that had been exposed during the Progressive Era. The United States became obsessed with the threat of communism, and it used the frontier as a metaphor for the struggle between good and evil.

Chapter 8: The War on Terror

The eighth chapter looks at the War on Terror, which began in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Grandin argues that the War on Terror is a continuation of the Cold War, and that it is being used to justify the expansion of American power around the world. The War on Terror has also been used to justify the construction of a border wall between the United States and Mexico.

Chapter 9: The End of the Myth

The ninth and final chapter argues that the myth of the frontier is finally coming to an end. The United States is no longer a young country, and it is no longer expanding its borders. The frontier is no longer a place of opportunity and possibility, but a place of danger and violence. The United States must now confront the problems that it has been able to ignore for so long, and it must find a new way to define itself.

The End of the Myth is a powerful and insightful book that challenges the way we think about American history. Grandin argues that the myth of the frontier has been used to justify some of the worst excesses of American power, and that it is time for us to finally let it go. The book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the United States and its place in the world.

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